AMPED I Happenings

Amped I has completed designs for a 161kV to 69kV substation that included three 69kV lines, one Bus differential, and one transformer protection package as well as SCADA control and status for a complete upgrade of the relaying system at a utility. These packages completely replace all the antiquated electromechanical relays as well as the SCADA supervisory and control for the station.

Amped I recently completed design work for the upgrade of an existing 12kV substation consisting of 41 switchgear cubicles. The project involved installation of 30 new cubicles and 11 new cubicle doors which will upgrade the existing substation to a microprocessor based intelligent substation. Additional design work includes SCADA, AC, and DC upgrades as well as transformer monitoring. The project continues this Spring with engineering and design of the 138kV portion of the substation including 3 new SF6 dead tank breakers and 4 new SF6 Hybrid circuit breakers.

Amped I has just completed a project that removed the final leased 138kV Audiotone circuit from service replacing the old antiquated electromechanical relays with microprocessor relays that utilize direct fiber and multiplexed relay communications. As a challenge to the project we designed a 138kV freestanding CT stand to bridge a trough and added as well as replaced CCVT’s for two lines. We also designed new 138kV Bus relaying to protect the primary bus at the station eliminating old DC interlocking schemes. By adding bus protection the reliability of the 138kV was significantly increased as well as reducing required zones of protection for outages. These lines went into service recently completing a program to replace all antiquated leased phone circuits used in relaying on the transmission system.

Amped I is currently working on a distribution audio-tone replacement project in the Midwest. The utility needs to retire the telecom circuits that are currently being used to provide Distribution Transfer Trip between the utility’s substations and customer generation sites. The distribution is at both the 34kV and 12kV level. DTT Transceivers and Receivers are being removed and being replaced with microprocessor relays that will communicate over a new fiber back haul being installed. Accessing customer owned substations was a challenge in this project, but has been overcome by having a dedicated project manager help with this coordination.

Amped I has just completed turnover of a replacement of a 300 MVA transformer in the downtown of a major metropolitan city. This design included new power system transformer protection and bus protection. It also included integration of serial communication for transformer monitoring as well as microprocessor relay SCADA. One of the challenges that went beyond a typical project was the coordination with another engineering firm that designed the physical and structural. This was a successful coordination.

Amped I is currently working on a 12KV (6) feeder relay upgrades, (4) transformer relay upgrades as well as bus differential protection system on the south side of Chicago. The scope of work also includes an addition of potential transformers for two 12KV buses and new SCADA system to support all new microprocessor relay communications. Along with this scope, Amped I is also designing for the addition of a new DC panel board. This project advances our physical design capabilities and cable routing due to the station being completely indoor and compact.

Amped I is in the process of replacing antiquated current and potential meters on critical substation systems with new digital technology multifunctional meters at multiple 12kV and 4kV sites in Illinois. Only a local digital display exists for many of these meters and it is essential to have remote, up-to-date and real-time access to full analytics pertaining to essential equipment such as transformers, feeders and voltage regulators. The need for remote data output was essential to this design, so new meters are either to be connected to existing remote terminal units or to newly installed remote terminal units. After further evaluation, Amped I is utilizing existing power, current transformer and potential transformer cables to save the client resources.

Amped I hosted an open house this month to invite clients to see our new and completed office.

Amped I hosted a “March Madness” party to celebrate local Northwestern University’s first entry into the tournament.

First Aid and CPR training for employees was completed this month. Amped I certified 26 employees in CPR, AED, and First Aid.

PROJECT REPORTS

Amped I has begun the design of a 138kV line upgrade in Indiana. This line upgrade will improve the electrical grid’s reliability by upgrading outdated, pre-existing protection and control relays with Schweitzer Microprocessor relays and automation controllers. One of the challenges faced in this design was obtaining the technical clarification of design details that match supplied templates to existing schemes. Amped I expects to complete this design in the summer of 2017.

This month Amped I invited the American Heart Association to the office to train and certify employees in First Aid. Safety is priority! -The AHA will return next month to certify employees in CPR.

PROJECT REPORTS

Amped I has recently completed the design and engineering of a 345/138kV transformer replacement and transformer protection project. This consisted of reconfiguring the 138kV side by adding one 138kV circuit breaker & associated MODs. Amped I also installed new breaker failure relaying on two breakers and installed a bus differential scheme on the 138kV side.

Amped I is currently in the process of replacing antiquated metering equipment with new digital technology at a site in Oklahoma

Along with the replacement of old RTU systems we are installing a new fiber communication system that can communicate with the newly installed digital metering equipment to provide load information.This installation includes new RTU systems, new Bitronic Meters, and new fiber communication cabinets. One challenge faced with this project was that there were missing drawings at the station for equipment that had been previously installed. We created new drawings and based connections on photos from our field walk-down and other related equipment.